Every sensation shares the same characteristic - arising, passing. Arising, passing. Learn to observe objectively.

Hope and fear come from feeling that we lack something; they come from a sense of poverty. We can't simply relax with ourselves. We hold on to hope, and hope robs us of the present moment.

Those who know emptiness, know impermanence. Those who know impermanence, know non-self. Those who know non-self, know peace.

In Zen there must be satori; there must be a general mental upheaval which destroys the old accumulations of intellection and lays down the foundation for a new life.

Craving and aversion are the roots of suffering. Observe them with equanimity.

Wisdom is not something we have to strive to acquire. Rather, wisdom arises naturally as we open our hearts to the truth of what is.

The force of the kindness of others is so strong, we can't possibly measure it.

May all beings be happy, be peaceful, be liberated.

To carry yourself forward and experience myriad things is delusion. That myriad things come forth and experience themselves is awakening.

Time passes unhindered. When we make mistakes, we cannot turn the clock back and try again. All we can do is use the present well.

The practice is simply this: keep coming back to your breath during the day. This will give your mind a steadiness and your life a balance.

There is no path to happiness: happiness is the path.

If you love someone, the greatest gift you can give them is your presence.

Real freedom is not about controlling our experience, but about being free within our experience.

Mindfulness helps us get better at seeing the difference between what's happening and the stories we tell ourselves about what's happening.

Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.

The practice of mindfulness leads naturally to concentration. Concentration leads naturally to wisdom.

The deepest happiness comes from having an enduring sense of purpose, one that gives our lives meaning beyond the endless pursuit of pleasure and success.

The essence of bravery is being without self-deception.

When we rest in awareness, we discover a peace that is always present, regardless of circumstances.

For whom emptiness is possible, everything is possible. For whom emptiness is not possible, nothing is possible.

Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.

The path of awakening is not about becoming who you are. Rather it is about unbecoming who you are not.

The role of Zen is neither to stand above life nor to run away from it, but to face it with a spirit of determination.

The true mark of a spiritual practitioner is that your own behavior is better, not that you can criticize others well.

Sleep is the best meditation.

Happiness is not the pursuit of an endless succession of experiences but an attitude toward life.

The whole moon and the entire sky are reflected in one dewdrop on the grass.

If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it's not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.

The more we understand impermanence, the more we understand that we can't hold on to anything.

In the monastery of your body, the monk of your mind must stay in retreat.

The Buddha's teachings are not a religion, but a science of mind.

Meditation is not about trying to change your experience; it's about changing your relationship to your experience.